I was doing a bit more research into winter time grouse foods when I came across this: Winter Food Habitats of Ruffed Grouse in Young Aspen Stands. This paper is based on finding from a 1972-1973 study of 10-15 year old clear cuts in Oneida County, Minnesota.
The researchers found that the top ruffed grouse foods were Aspen bud and Hazel catkins. The grouse also were also feeding heavily on a species of ferns, as well as on wintergreen and goldenthread.
i have a grouse that lives on my property. i would like to know what
the hen likes to eat. i have no intentions to kill the grouse. but she
is company, and i don’t what to feed her for the winter in ny around
lake ontario. again, i no intention to kill the hen. thanks
I don’t know what you could feed grouse. I’ve never heard of anyone feeding them, actually. In the winter, grouse tend to feed on Aspen/Poplar buds, especially when there’s snow on the ground. If you have Aspen/Poplar trees around, you grouse should have all the food she needs.
Good luck with her. I’m sure she’s fun to watch.
Gregg